Released on January 9th of this year, Zach Bryan dropped his 25-song album With Heaven on Top, his first release since 2024. Known for his stripped back sound and painfully honest lyrics, Zach sticks to what he does best, but this time it feels a little calmer and more settled.
The album explores hope, identity, and reflection, but it does not feel forced or overly dramatic. Instead, the themes unfold naturally across the tracks. There are songs that centre on love and heartbreak, others that lean into small town roots and the weight of growing up, and a few that quietly question what success actually means and its effects. It feels like Zach Bryan is taking stock of where he is in life without trying to romanticise his struggles.
One of the strengths of ‘With Heaven on Top’ is its consistency. Twenty-five songs is a risk. It would have been easy for the album to drag, feel repetitive, and like an average record mass produced for profit, but it does not. While some tracks stand out more than others, there is a clear thread tying them together. The production stays relatively simple, allowing the lyrics to remain front and centre. Acoustic guitar drives much of the album, supported by subtle instrumentals that build when needed but never overpower the storytelling.
Lyrically, Bryan continues to write in a way that feels conversational. His songs read almost like journal entries. Rather than chasing radio hits, he seems more interested in capturing moments and emotions as they are, which only, in my opinion at least, creates a stronger sense of connection to his audience.
That said, the album is not without its quieter stretches. A few songs blur together, especially when listened to in one sitting. But even then, there is something comforting about the steady tone of the record. With that said, a few of my favourite songs including; ‘Say Why’, ‘Appetite’, ‘Bad News’ and ‘Santa Fe’ are arguably some of Zach Bryans best works to date. Not only is it the kind of album that works just as well playing softly in the background while studying as it does blasting at top volume through speakers on a late-night drive.
Overall, ‘With Heaven on Top’ feels like a natural progression rather than any dramatic reinvention. It does not try to shock or reinvent the genre. It simply delivers solid songwriting and honest reflection, which is exactly why people keep coming back to Zach Bryan. So, the only question left to ask now is, when is Zach Bryan coming to tour Australia?
